The Maha Kumbh Mela, held once every 12 years in Prayagraj, is a large spiritual gathering that attracts millions of people. This year, the Mela is special as the stars align in a way that happens only once every 144 years. Devotees from all over India come to bathe in the rivers of Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, believing it will wash away their sins and bring them salvation.
To manage the large crowds and reduce environmental impact, the government has put in place several measures like over 10,000 cleaning staff, better waste management systems, eco-friendly transport, and solar power. There’s also a "one bag, one plate" campaign to reduce waste. With a budgetary allocation of 7,500 crore from centre and state government, authorities are committed to making the event more sustainable. However, with millions attending the Mela, many wonder that managing the large waste generated can be a challenge and raise the question of whether these efforts can truly keep the Mela clean and green.
Reporter/Script: Sushmita Barik
Camera: Vikram Sharma
Editor: Ehraz Zamam
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To manage the large crowds and reduce environmental impact, the government has put in place several measures like over 10,000 cleaning staff, better waste management systems, eco-friendly transport, and solar power. There’s also a "one bag, one plate" campaign to reduce waste. With a budgetary allocation of 7,500 crore from centre and state government, authorities are committed to making the event more sustainable. However, with millions attending the Mela, many wonder that managing the large waste generated can be a challenge and raise the question of whether these efforts can truly keep the Mela clean and green.
Reporter/Script: Sushmita Barik
Camera: Vikram Sharma
Editor: Ehraz Zamam
Follow us:
Website: https://www.outlookindia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Outlookindia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outlookindia/
X: https://twitter.com/Outlookindia
Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaNrF3v0AgWLA6OnJH0R
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OutlookMagazine
Dailymotion: https://www.dailymotion.com/outlookindia
#Kumbh #MahaKumbh2025 #PaushPurnima #PavitraSangam #Sangam #Prayagraj #UttarPradesh #KumbhMela #Allahabad #Haridwar #Varanasi #UP #ShahiSnan #Akhadas #CulturalHeritage #ArdhaKumbh #PurnaKumbh
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NewsTranscript
00:00Vaswad is a village situated a few kilometers away from Prayagraj.
00:04Not only do they throw out the waste, they also throw out the waste that comes out of the well.
00:09Now, this village has turned into a waste dump.
00:11A resident of the village, Vijay Kumar, says that he is suffering from all kinds of diseases from skin diseases to stomach aches.
00:18He also says that he is afraid of the next monsoon when the waste doesn't reach his house during the rains.
00:26Due to health issues, a school and a college have already been shut down.
00:30Welcome to Deep Dive with Outlook.
00:33Let's get to know about the Kumbh Mela and the environmental challenges associated with it.
00:37The Kumbh Mela of Prayagraj is held once in every 12 years.
00:40This year, more than 50 crores of devotees are expected to attend the Kumbh Mela.
00:45They will come to Ganga to take a royal bath.
00:48During the Kumbh Mela, the royal bath is considered to be the main bath in the Triveni Sangam.
00:54But, there is a huge environmental problem behind this huge event.
01:00For the past few years, there has been a lot of concern about water pollution, waste management and the environment.
01:07According to a report, 18,000 metric tons of solid waste was thrown out in the Prayagraj Earth Kumbh Mela in 2019.
01:15However, the Baswar Sewage Management Plant was inaugurated to properly dispose of the waste.
01:22But, this plant was shut down in 2018.
01:24The National Green Tribunal has accused the state government of violating the NGT's orders and violating the Solid Waste Management Rule in 2016.
01:36In a study conducted by IIT Kanpur, it has been found that Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj are directly responsible for the pollution of the Ganga River.
01:46Only the water that comes out of these 3 places contributes about 50% to the pollution of the Ganga.
01:53Especially in Prayagraj, where more than 50% of the sewage water goes straight to the Ganga without any treatment.
02:01According to a report conducted by the Namami Ganga Programme in 2019,
02:06300 million litres of sewage water is thrown out of houses in Varanasi every day.
02:14In Varanasi, where 1 million people live, 35 nalas and sewage water goes straight to the Ganga.
02:21According to a study conducted by Abdul Kalam Technical University,
02:25more than 100 tons of waste was collected every day in the Haridwar Kumbh Mela in 2021.
02:32In 2019, the amount of waste collected from Prayagraj was 150 tons per day.
02:41Environmental activists are continuously raising this issue so that the environment around us can be protected.
02:47In 2018, IIT Kanpur professor and environmental activist Swami Gyan Saroop Sanand died in a hunger strike.
02:57He was demanding the government to take strict action to keep the Ganga River clean.
03:03According to a report, the Namami Ganga Programme was started in 2014 to clean the Ganga.
03:10Even after spending Rs. 40,000 crores, the Ganga water is not safe to drink or bathe.
03:19The sewage treatment plants are not working properly.
03:23There are many things in the papers, but they don't work.
03:27Taking environmental issues more seriously,
03:30NGT asked the Uttar Pradesh government and the Central Pollution Control Board
03:35to ensure that the Ganga water is clean for bathing and drinking before the Kumbh Mela in 2025.
03:44Not only that, NGT also ordered that no untreated sewage water should be put in the river during the Mela.
03:51This year, the Uttar Pradesh government has organized 10,000 cleaners, 80,000 tanks and 28,000 toilets in the Kumbh Mela.
04:00Along with that, initiatives like the solar power system and eco-friendly vehicles have also been implemented.
04:06Under the Plastic Free Kumbh, the One Bag One Thali campaign has also started.
04:11This campaign is to prevent the use of polythene so that there is less waste.
04:16But will these steps be enough to handle the waste caused by such a big campaign?
04:21Many people believe that the steps taken to reduce the environmental impact of the Kumbh Mela
04:28such as cleaners, eco-friendly vehicles and plastic-free campaigns are the right steps.
04:35But seeing the presence of lakhs of people in such a big campaign,
04:40the question that arises is whether these steps will be enough to control the environmental impact.
04:47We'll find out after the Kumbh Mela ends
04:50how much effort has been put in to control the pollution.
04:56Stay tuned for more such Deep Dive Explainer videos.